Dublin’s The Secret Book and Record Store, also known as Freebird Records, is a little bit hard to find. You have to go 300 meters from Grafton Street on Wicklow Street and look for this sign.
Then, go down this hall.
And, at the end of this hall, find this treasure trove.
That’s just some of the books, mind you. Most of those unopened boxes are full of books they haven’t yet shelved. Then, there’s the music…
Good grief, they pack in a lot of stuff into a reasonably small space. The place doesn’t feel cramped, however. It’s far enough off the busy street to be quiet and let you relax as you browse. My mother was with me on this trip, and she found a couple books she would’ve bought if she’d had more room in her carry-on bag. I had to limit myself to a small purchase, so I went with these.
I’ve been looking for that Faithless album for years, and that three-disc Slowdive collection was less than eighteen bucks. Yes, please.
It’s worth walking away from the beaten path to find this place. You won’t regret it.
Keep your mind open.
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